All Primary care articles – Page 279
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HSJ Knowledge
E-bulletin on HRG4 launched
NHS trusts can sign up to a new electronic mailing service that will help them prepare for the introduction of the new set of healthcare resources groups
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News
Survey says nine out of 10 patients can see GP within 48 hours
Nine out 10 patients can visit their GP within 48 hours and four out of 10 can get an appointment on the same day, according to a survey of 10,000 patients by Picker Institute Europe.The survey, commissioned by the Department of Health, also found that 70 per cent of patients ...
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News
Watchdog appoints three new commissioners
The Healthcare Commission today welcomes Professor Deirdre Kelly, Clare Dodgson, and Clifford Prior as commissioners.The trio will join the twelve current commissioners tasked with driving quality in healthcare and public health. Read the press release here
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News
DoH: reforms cutting unnecessary appointments
The Department of Health says GPs are sending fewer patients to hospital for unnecessary appointments following government reforms to give practices a greater say in procurement and provision of services.Evidence from early practice-based commissioning adopters shows that practices have cut patient referrals for hospital treatment by between 25 and 33 ...
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News
Another boost for drug treatment funding
Funding for drug treatment services is set to increase as the government looks to build on the progress made in getting people into treatment over the last few years.Public health minister Caroline Flint announced the pooled drug treatment budget is to increase from £375m to £388m for 2007-08.Find out more ...
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News
PCTs wanted for interactive media health service
The government is calling on strategic health authorities to suggest primary care trusts to test NHS Health Direct, a new interactive media service to help people improve their health.
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Comment
NHS independence: removing politicians will leave a hole that must be filled
Would an 'independent' NHS create a worse provider monopoly than British Leyland or set it lose from the targetitis of Whitehall? Who would hold the reins of scrutiny - regulators, Parliament or local councils? Where are the models - the BBC, Scandinavia, Oregon or New Zealand? Is independence even a ...
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Comment
Joint working: more power for councils will test relations
The government has proposed that councils and primary care trusts sign up to joint 'strategic assessments' of local health needs and, potentially, 'a single regime' to meet them (news, page 5). The details will emerge next month, but already a number of things are clear.
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News
New moves to tackle obesity in children
The Commons public accounts committee has published its eighth report on child obesity based on evidence from the departments of Health; Education and Skills; and Culture, Media and Sport.It is estimated the rise in obesity costs the NHS around £1bn a year.The government aims to tackle these problems by influencing ...
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News
NHS and councils could be placed under 'single regime' for assessment
Local authorities and primary care trusts could have a 'single regime' which assesses them against joint outcome measures, under proposals due to be announced next month.
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News
New website to give NHS patients more power
The Department of Health has announced the launch of a new website that will bring together information on all hospitals and treatment centres.The Choice website will allow members of the public and clinicians to access a range of information through one super site that will act as a one-stop gateway ...
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News
Hewitt insists choose and book is on track
Health secretary Patricia Hewitt has attacked the 'myth' that the choose and book programme to boost patient choice in the NHS is not working properly.Taking questions from the audience at health seminar hosted by the Social Market Foundation, she was challenged over claims that not all patients were being given ...
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News
Schools in deprived areas to get pedometers
Children at schools in deprived areas are to be given pedometers as part of a £494,000 project to motivate inactive children to become fitter.Public health minister Caroline Flint launched the National School Pedometer Programme, which will see 250 schools across the country given 45,000 pedometers.Ms Flint said: 'Using pedometers in ...
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News
Select committee announces witnesses for patient and public involvement inquiry
The Commons health select committee has announced the witnesses for its first hearing on patient and public involvement in the NHS. The first evidence session will be held on 1 February.The committee will be hearing evidence from Department of Health national director for patients and the public Harry Cayton, National ...
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News
New training to reduce violence against ambulance staff
The NHS Security Management Service (SMS) has launched a new set of standards to ensure high quality training for ambulance workers for prevention of violence.SMS head of security management Richard Hampton said: 'Ambulance staff are at the forefront of NHS care and face particular risks that this training is designed ...
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News
Local government white paper plan launched
The Department for Communities and Local Government has published the implementation plan for the local government white paper.The plan covers five workstreams including one on public involvement in health, which includes details on the expansion of overview and scrutiny committees.Read the plan here
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News
Drinking levels lower in London than rest of country
Londoners are less likely to drink alcohol than the rest of the country according to a new report, London, the Highs and Lows 2, launched by mayor Ken Livingstone.Young Londoners are also less likely to use drugs than young people in other parts of ...
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News
Lib Dems condemn 'depressingly familiar' Tory policies
Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Norman Lamb has called the findings of the Conservative policy commission on the NHS 'depressingly familiar' and claimed that giving GPs total control of their budgets would lead to greater health inequalities.He said: 'There can be no doubt that GPs are the backbone of the primary ...
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News
Select committee to hear evidence on workforce planning
The Commons health select committee will be holding its final session on workforce planning on 25 January.The committee will be hearing from new minister Lord Hunt and Department of Health deputy director of workforce Nic Greenfield.Click here for more information
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News
DoH signs prisoner healthcare agreement
The Department of Health has signed a national partnership agreement with the Home Office covering the healthcare needs of prisoners.This updates the original agreement signed three years ago and covers all public sector prisons in England.Read the agreement here